New report inspires cities to improve urban transport
Five European cities have improved their traffic situation and environment by working together in over 50 different sub-projects. After a four-year EU collaboration, Graz, Lille, Pécs, Prague and Stockholm show how both radical and simple solutions can make a big change for urban environment.
Less car use, better public transportation, innovative ways to transport goods and a boom in clean vehicle use are key results within the EU project Trendsetter – Setting Trends for a Sustainable Urban Mobility. The project ended in January 2006 and has improved the air quality, increased the accessibility and reduced the noise levels in all five participating cities.
A report now presents the results and conclusions from 53 different measures that can be used by other cities, e.g. to meet Kyoto and EU goals for emissions.
Alternatives to private carsThe Trendsetter cities have improved their public transport systems and attracted more passengers by using tools like real-time information systems, web-based trip planning services, Park&Ride facilities, secure parking and places for bikes. Some other examples include improved train-bus-car coordination and fine-tuned timetables in Lille, special “mobility centres” in Graz and dynamic bus priority systems in Prague and Stockholm. Lille and Stockholm have also prepared smart card systems for easy and integrated ticketing.
All cities except Lille have created either environmental zones to limit certain traffic or strolling zones to make the city centre more pedestrian-friendly. In Pécs, this has reduced traffic with 80 to 100 percent in the city centre.
Co-transportation of goodsGraz and Stockholm have proved that co-transportation of goods can reduce heavy transports and their negative environmental impact. A logistic centre was established in Graz, consolidating retail goods. In Stockholm, a logistic centre handles deliveries to a large construction site and another handles deliveries to restaurants.
Clean vehicles and fuelsTrendsetter has shown that biofuels are perfect for city buses and car fleets and that it is possible for a city to inspire and support private companies. In Stockholm, more than 3 000 clean vehicles have been introduced in private company fleets. Infrastructure for biodiesel in Graz and biogas in Stockholm and Lille has been set up. In Lille, a new major biogas production plant – the largest in Europe producing biogas from organic waste – is under construction.
The report Sustainable Urban Transport – Final Report from the European Project Trendsetter is downloadable here.
 Download pdf Trendsetter Policy Report
|
Format for printing
Email this page
